NAPSTER APLOGISE TO USERS

Problems have developed while the file-sharing application attempts to remove copyrighted material from their service...

NAPSTER have issued an apology to their users for “overblocking”, or unintentionally removing legitimate files from user’s accounts while they attempt to remove copyrighted material from their service.

As previously reported on NME.COM, Napster have been redefining their filtering techniques in the face of criticism over their alleged inability to remove copyrighted MP3 files from their system, following a court injunction earlier in the year ordering them to do so.

However, in a statement issued on Napster,[url=]www.napster.com, representatives say that their attempts have been too successful – and some songs will have been removed which should be allowed on the service.

The statement reads: “We have recently enhanced those filters in an effort to screen out the wide range of variations in artist name and song title that result in noticed works continuing to appear on the Napster index. That, in turn, has unfortunately caused substantial additional “overblocking”, the unintentional removal of otherwise authorised works, for which we apologise to our users and artists. We will continue to refine our filters in an effort to avoid overblocking to the extent possible.”

Napster announced earlier in the week they plan to employ “digital fingerprinting” in its continuing efforts to remove copyrighted material. The process involves identifying songs by their acoustic properties, rather than the filename of the song.